Canadian residencies
Emergency medicine
100Spots for Canadian gradsFirst-round spots in the 2026 match for grads of Canadian med schools.Source: CaRMS
spots for Canadian grads
0.76Spots per first-choice applicantA comparison between specialties, not anyone’s odds.Source: CaRMS
spots per person who ranked it first
4.3%Ranked it first, 2026Source: CaRMS
of Canadian grads ranked it first
5 yearsResidency lengthPlanned as a 5-year residency.Source: Royal College
residency
In brief
Compare two residencies- 100 spots, 4.3% ranked it first. 0.76 spots per person who ranked it first.
- 2 ways in: the Royal College's 5-year emergency medicine residency, or family medicine plus the CFPC's emergency medicine designation.
- Subspecialties include pediatric emergency medicine, critical care, toxicology and pain medicine.
- Billing: not tracked separately. CIHI counts emergency medicine (code 014) inside family medicine. Closest published figure: $341,349 (Alberta, 2021-22).
Full breakdown
The 2026 match
- Spots for Canadian grads
- 100100 spots for Canadian gradsFirst-round spots in the 2026 match set aside for grads of Canadian med schools. International grads have their own stream.Source: CaRMS
- Spots per person who ranked it first
- 0.760.76 spots per person who ranked it firstUnder 1.00: more people put it first than there were spots. It compares specialties. It isn’t anyone’s odds, because people rank several programs and programs rank people.Our math100 spots ÷ 0.76 = about 132 people ranked it first. That’s 1.3 people for every spot.Source: CaRMS
- Rank, 1 = hardest
- 14 of 3314 of 33, 1 = hardestOur mathAll 33 match streams sorted by spots per person who ranked it first, lowest first.Source: CaRMS
- People who ranked it first
- About 132About 132 ranked it firstCanadian grads who put it first on their rank list. CaRMS publishes the ratio, not the count, so this is our estimate.Our math100 spots ÷ 0.76 = 132. CaRMS rounds the ratio, so the real count is between 131 and 132.Source: CaRMS
- Empty after the first round (all streams)
- 1Empty after the first round, all streamsSource: CaRMS
- Empty after both rounds (all streams)
- 11 spots still emptyEmpty after the first round: 1. Still empty after the second round: 1. Counts every stream, including international grads, so it is a bigger pool than the Canadian-grad spots.Source: CaRMS
- Applications offered an interview (2025 match)
- 51%51% of applications got an interviewIn the 2025 match, Canadian grads sent 1,885 applications to emergency medicine programs and 964 got an interview offer. Counts applications, not people: one person usually applies to several programs. 2026 is not published yet.Source: CaRMS
- Filled in round 1 + round 2 (all streams)
- 106 + 2Filled in each round, 2026First round: 106 of 107 spots filled. Second round: 2 of 3 filled, 1 left empty. All streams, including international grads.Source: CaRMS
- Ranked it first and had no residency after both rounds
- 1Ranked it first, no residencyCanadian grads only.Our math1 who took part in the second round and did not match + 0 who did not match in the first round and skipped the second = 1Source: CaRMS
- Ranked it first, matched to family medicine (first round)
- 21Matched to family medicine insteadSource: CaRMS
Ranked it first, by yearRanked it first, 2022 to 2026Source: CaRMS
Billing, 2024-25
CIHI doesn’t split this one out. Closest published figure: $341,349Alberta, 2021-22$341,349: alberta, 2021-22CIHI has no Canadian average for this one on its own. Average gross fee-for-service payment to emergency medicine physicians in Alberta. Doctors paid through alternative plans are not included. Nationally, CIHI counts emergency doctors inside family medicine. Before expenses, not take-home pay.Source: Alberta Health. CIHI counts emergency medicine (code 014) inside family medicine.
Training
5-year residency. Planned as a 5-year residency.Residency lengthSource: Royal College
| Pediatric emergency medicine | 26 blocks (2 years). Up to 13 blocks (1 year) can be done during your residency..Pediatric emergency medicineSource: Royal CollegeAfter medical school: 6 to 7 years. |
|---|---|
| Adult critical care medicine | Planned as 2 years.Adult critical care medicineSource: Royal College |
| Pediatric critical care medicine | Planned as 2 years.Pediatric critical care medicineSource: Royal College |
| Clinical pharmacology and toxicology | Planned as 2 years.Clinical pharmacology and toxicologySource: Royal College |
| Pain medicine | Planned as 2 years. Up to 1 year can be done during your residency..Pain medicineSource: Royal CollegeAfter medical school: 6 to 7 years. |
The other route is family medicine. The CFPC awards its emergency medicine designation, CCFP (EM), by exam, reached through an accredited residency program or through practice.Source: CFPC
Did you know?
21 grads who ranked it first matched into family medicine in the first round, the other road into emergency work.